PAR. Little Helen, farewell: if I can remember thee, I will think of thee at court. HEL. Monsieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable star. PAR. Under Mars, I. HEL. I especially think, under Mars. PAR. Why under Mars? HEL. The wars have so kept you under, that you must needs be born under Mars. PAR. When he was predominant. HEL. When he was retrograde, I think, rather. PAR. Why think you so? HEL. You go so much backward when you fight. PAR. That's for advantage. HEL. So is running away, when fear proposes the safety: But the composition that your valour and fear makes in you is a virtue of a good wing, and I like the wear well. PAR. I am so full of businesses I cannot answer thee acutely: I will return Which we ascribe to Heaven; the fated sky [Exit. [Exit. SCENE II.-Paris. A Room in the King's Palace. Flourish of cornets. Enter the KING OF FRANCE, with letters; Lords and others attending. KING. The Florentines and Senoys are by the ears; KING. Youth, thou bear'st thy father's face; He had the wit, which I can well observe In their poor praise he humbled b: Such a man Which, follow'd well, would demonstrate them now BER. His good remembrance, sir, Lies richer in your thoughts than on his tomb; As in your royal speech. KING. 'Would I were with him! He would always say, To grow there, and to bear1,)—“ Let me not live," On the catastrophe and heel of pastime, Since I nor wax nor honey can bring home, I quickly were dissolved from my hive, To give some labourers room. KING. I fill a place, I know 't.-How long is 't, count, Since the physician at your father's died? He was much fam'd. The metaphor of a "clock" is continued; his tongue, in speaking what "exception" bade him, obeyed the hand of honour's clock-his hand being put for its hand. Malone deems the construction to be, "in their poor praise he being humbled." Some six months since, my lord. were living I would try him yet;— Thank your majesty. [Exeunt. Flourish. ENE III.-Rousillon. A Room in the Countess's Palace. Enter COUNTESS, Steward, and Clown. 1 now hear: what say you of this gentlewoman? m, the care I have had to even your content, I wish might be found lendar of my past endeavours: for then we wound our modesty, foul the clearness of our deservings, when of ourselves we publish t does this knave here? Get you gone, sirrah: The complaints I d of you I do not all believe; 't is my slowness that I do not for ou lack not folly to commit them, and have ability enough to make weries yours. ot unknown to you, madam, I am a poor fellow. , sir. dam, 't is not so well that I am poor; though many of the rich are But, if I may have your ladyship's good-will to go to the world", woman and I will do as we may. thou needs be a beggar? g your good-will in this case. hat case? I's case and mine own. Service is no heritage: and I think I shall e the blessing of God, till I have issue o' my body; for, they say, e blessings. me thy reason why thou wilt marry. r body, madam, requires it: I am driven on by the flesh; and he ls go that the devil drives. is all your worship's reason? nadam, I have other holy reasons, such as they are. the world know them? do about Nothing' (Act II., Scene 1), Beatrice says, "Thus goes every one to the The commentators explain the phrase of Beatrice by the Clown's speech in the at "to go to the world" is to be married. It appears to us that the Clown asks his e begs her ladyship's "good-will to go to the world." The domestic fool was ordiadition of a slave, and was sold or given away. The Clown here adds, “Service is And yet, "to go to the world" may also mean to marry-as we still say, to settle A son or daughter, having the paternal leave to marry, goes to the world, in the tering its responsibilities. CLO. I have been, madam, a wicked creature, as you and all flesh and blood are; and, indeed, I do marry that I may repent. COUNT. Thy marriage, sooner than thy wickedness. CLO. I am out o' friends, madam; and I hope to have friends for my wife's sake. COUNT. Such friends are thine enemies, knave. CLO. You're shallow, madam, in great friends a; for the knaves come to do that for me, which I am a-weary of. He that ears my land spares my team, and gives me leave to in the crop: If I be his cuckold, he's my drudge: He that comforts my wife is the cherisher of my flesh and blood; he that cherishes my flesh and blood loves my flesh and blood; he that loves my flesh and blood is my friend; ergo, he that kisses my wife is my friend. If men could be contented to be what they are, there were no fear in marriage: for young Charbon the puritan, and old Poysam the papist, howsome'er their hearts are severed in religion, their heads are both one,-they may jowl horns together, like any deer i' the herd. COUNT. Wilt thou ever be a foul-mouth'd and calumnious knave? CLO. A prophet I, madam; and I speak the truth the next wayb: For I the ballad will repeat, Which men full true shall find; COUNT. Get you gone, sir; I'll talk with you more anon. STEW. May it please you, madam, that he bid Helen come to you; of her I am to speak. COUNT. Sirrah, tell my gentlewoman I would speak with her; Helen I mean. Was this fair face the cause, quoth she, Why the Grecians sacked Troy' ? Fond done, done fond, Was this king Priam's joy? With that she sighed as she stood, COUNT. What, one good in ten? you corrupt the song, sirrah. [Singing. CLO. One good woman in ten, madam, which is a purifying o' the song: 'Would God would serve the world so all the year! we'd find no fault with the tithe * In great friends. So the original. The modern reading is e'en great friends. Surely no alteration is necessary; the meaning clearly being-You are shallow in the matter of great friends. The next way-the nearest way. The mention of Helen is associated in the mind of the Clown with some popular ballad on the war of Troy. ! |